The narrator of âBartleby, the Scrivenerâ is a lawyer who is serious about his work and made it his first priority. His assistant Bartleby was a hard worker at first, however, he was distant and did not open up to people as much as he shouldâve. This lead to conflict between Bartleby and the narrator.
Character Analysis in Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street. Bartleby: The lawyer hires Bartleby to be a scrivener, a scribe who copies court and legal documents, for his law firm. While initially a prolific worker, Bartleby slowly begins to resist direct instruction, repeating the phrase âI prefer not toâ when asked to do something.
The unnamed narrator (who we will refer to as The Lawyer) introduces himself as a ârather elderly manâ and establishes that he has had much contact with a set of men that have never before been written aboutâscriveners, or law-copyists.
The Lawyer gives Bartleby all the money the scrivener is owed, plus the 20-dollar bonus. He tells Bartleby that he wishes him well, and that if he can be of service to the scrivener, Bartleby shouldnât hesitate to contact The Lawyer.
When Bartlebyâs actions begin to affect the officeâs reputation, the narrator still does not want to confront the situation. Instead of removing Bartleby, the narrator leaves.
The Lawyer is the unnamed narrator of "Bartleby the Scrivener." He owns a law firm on Wall Street, and he employs four men as scriveners, or copyists: Turkey, Nippers, Ginger Nut, and Bartleby. The Lawyer is about sixty years old. He is level-headed, industrious, and has a good mind for business.
Some critics think that, therefore, the Lawyer represents Melville's readers, asking Melville to write the same old fiction he had been writing all along, and Bartleby is Melville himself, replying that he would "prefer not to" and eventually withdrawing into himself and his misery.
The narrator of "Bartleby the Scrivener" is the Lawyer, who runs a law practice on Wall Street in New York.
Through the ordeal of his interaction with each of his scriveners we learn that the lawyer plays it safe. ...to figure out who Bartleby is. Pinsker also mentions that the lawyer fear of having to confront the isolation and loneliness is the reason behind him wanting to reach out to Bartleby.
With the sudden changes of Bartleby, the Lawyer feels overpowered, and it is like he does not have any power over his employees like Bartleby. Marcus explains that Bartleby is a psychological double for the Lawyer. The author says that Bartlebys power over the Lawyer quickly grows as the story progresses (Marcus 1).
As a narrator, the lawyer is unreliable because the reader cannot always trust his interpretation of events. The lawyer, as he himself admits, is a man of âassumptions,â and his prejudices often prevent him from offering an accurate view of the situation.
We never learn his name, but The Lawyer, who narrates the story, tells us that he is a lawyer who owns his own law practice located on Wall Street in New York City. The Lawyer's status as both a Christian man and a business owner often forces him into internal conflict.
The Lawyer then mentions that an important part of a scrivenerâs job is to re-read what they have written in order to check for mistakes.
The Lawyerâs storytelling is, in itself, an example of language failing to properly communicate. Active Themes. The Lawyer then states that he is a lawyer, and describes his business as focusing around ârich menâs bonds, and mortgages, and title deeds.â.
Finally, The Lawyer asks Ginger Nut what he thinks, and Ginger Nut replies that Bartleby is a âluny.â. So, The Lawyer again turns toward Bartlebyâs screen, and urges Bartleby to come out and do his âduty.â. However, Bartleby neither replies nor emerges from his desk.
The Lawyer offers Bartleby the 20-dollar bonus and tells him he must go. Bartleby replies that he would prefer not to. The Lawyer tells him he must, but Bartleby sits there silently. The Lawyer gives Bartleby all the money the scrivener is owed, plus the 20-dollar bonus.
Next, The Lawyer details his employee Nippers, who is also a scrivener. Nippers is about twenty-five years old, has yellow complexion, wears a mustache, and, in The Lawyerâs view, is âvictim of two evil powersâambition and indigestion.â.
The Lawyer searches the desk, and finds that Bartlebyâs papers are neatly laid out. However, beneath the papers, The Lawyer finds an old knotted handkerchief.
Of course, Bartleby passively resists, and in escaping behind his screen (a make-shift wall), he disconnects himself, at least momentarily, from the rest of the office. Active Themes. The Lawyer stands there, unsure what to do. Finally he advances toward the screen, and asks Bartleby why he refuses.
The Relationship of Bartleby and the Narrator in Bartleby, the Scrivener. Herman Melvilleâs short story, âBartleby, the Scrivener,â has provided readers and critics with enough material to speculate upon Bartlebyâs condition and the message the writer intends to send through the peculiar character. Bartlebyâs unique character was so mysterious ...
Sanford Pinsker, who wrote the article, âBartleby, the Scrivenerâ: Language as Wall advances the theory that in order to understand the symbolism of Melvilleâs short story, one must focus on the details regarding the narrator instead of trying to sell the enigma posed by the scrivener himself. Pinsker further considers the metaphor ...
So when Bartleby appears at the office and interviews for the job, the narrator thinks that Bartleby will tone the office down some because he was so different than the others. Everyone else worked in a separate location to the narrator, so Widmer believes that the narrator places Bartleby in his office so that he can control him ...
The double meaning of the relationship between the narrator and Bartleby must be taken into consideration considering the environment the narrator describes he lived in for most of his adult life. His employees, the only people he introduces as his entourage, appear to be suffering from the alienating effects of their profession.
Barley is frightening to the narrator because he highlights the meaninglessness of work, something the narrator believed in. Once a message is taken out of context, it may become useless for those who are trying to discover its meaning. In this case, one accepts Weinstockâs proposal to consider âBartleby, the Scrivenerâ a mystery story.
For the contemporary reader, Bartlebyâs existence could have a double meaning: an alter ego for the alienated person who is living under circumstances completely different from what nature intended it to be and a choice of passive response to societies compulsiveness to adjust and submit to a strict simple but deceptive rules.
Melvilleâs exploration into the limitations imposed by an artificial and apparently absurd and purposeless life goes deeper into the depth of human mind and psyche. The development of the narration gives the reader the possibility to make all kinds of speculations, thus bringing the story closer to being a mystery story.
in. Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street. Bartleby: The lawyer hires Bartleby to be a scrivener, a scribe who copies court and legal documents, for his law firm. While initially a prolific worker, Bartleby slowly begins to resist direct instruction, repeating the phrase âI prefer not toâ when asked to do something.
Bartlebyâs comment is perplexing for two reasons. First, Bartleby defends his refusal to work without any explanation and yet assumes the lawyer would understand. Second, Bartleby asks whether the lawyer does not see the reason, which is particularly strange because âhis eyes looked dull and glazed.â.
The narratorâs love for Astor indicates that he is of the upper class. Caitlin, Owl Eyes Staff.
See in text (Bartleby, the Scrivener) John Jacob Astorâs presence in this story draws attention to the class conflict prevalent in this time. The Astor Place Riot of 1949 was the most deadly and violent class conflict in a series of disturbances in New York City from 1840â1850.
The lawyer states that Bartlebyâs ânonchalance,â or indifference, is simultaneously respectful (âgentlemanlyâ) and without life (âcadaverouslyâ). Some form of the word âcadaverousâ appears three times throughout the story to characterize Bartleby. Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor. Subscribe to unlock Âť.
If the absence of Bartlebyâs biography is an âirreparable lossâ then the ensuing tale about Bartleby must be an essential part of literature. In this way the lawyer compels the reader to continue reading and suggests that his short story is already great literature.
As with the character of Bartleby, the reader is told little to nothing about The Lawyerâs personal life or family history, leaving the reader open to put themselves in The Lawyerâs shoes.
(full context) Once heâs alone in the office, The Lawyer determines that Bartleby must be eating , dressing, and even sleeping in the office.
A few days later, with the other employees absent, The Lawyer asks Bartleby to carry letters to the Post Office, but Bartleby declines, forcing The Lawyer ... (full context) Six days later, Bartleby remains in the office. The Lawyer offers Bartleby the 20-dollar bonus and tells him he must go.
As when he debates about whether to keep Bartleby employed, he often exhibits a tension between capitalistic pressure and Christian charitable morality , a tension many Americans were facing in the urbanizing economic boom of the mid-1800âs.
(full context) That day, The Lawyer heads to the prison to attest to the fact that Bartleby is an honest, but... (full context) On his way out, a man (The Grubman) stops The Lawyer and asks if Bartleby is his friend.
Next, The Lawyer details his employee Nippers, who is also a scrivener. Nippers is about twenty-five years old,... (full context) However, despite these issues, The Lawyer considers Nippers a useful employee as a scrivener, as he is a good dresser, which... (full context)